Wire-tightener



(No Model.)

J. W. AUSTIN.

WIRE TIGHTENER.

Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' J OHX IV. AUSTIN, OF PILOT POINT, TEXAS.

WIRE-TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,503, dated December 9, 1890.

Application filed August 20,1890- Serial No. 362,474. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, JOHN \V. AUSTIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pilot Point, in the county of Denton and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ire-Tightei'iers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification. 4

My invention relates to improvements in devices for tightening wires, being adapted particularly for tightening fence-wires, although it can be used with advantage for tightening wires generally.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which shall be simple and economical in construction and eflicient and reliable in use.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section,of a wire-tight ener constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of a twisted wire, showing the manner in which it is tightened.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates the frame or body of the device, consisting of a curved or semicircular metal bar. This bar may be made in any suitable manner, by casting, forging, or otherwise. At the center of the bar at its outer edge is formed a groove 2, which receives the wire to be twisted. In the sides of the bar formed by said grooves are two aligned holes 3 and 4, of different diameters, which receive the pin by which the wires are tightened, This pin consists of an angular or two-armed tapering pin, one of the arms 5 being of smaller diameter than the other 6.

The operation is as follows: The device is applied to the wires to be tightened, in the present instance what is known as a twisted fence-wire being shown, with the wires resting in the groove 2, as seen in Fig. 1. One of the arms of the tapering pin is then placed in the holes 3 and 4., which confines the wire between said arm and the bar 1. 1 By then twisting the bar or turning it by means of the arms in Fig. 1. a loop is made in the wires, as shown in Fig. 3, which causes them to be tightened. After this loop is formed the pin can be withdrawn from the bar by means of the opposite arm, which serves as a lever or handle, and the bar withdrawn from the wires.

The object of making the two arms of the pin of different diameters is that varying sizes of loops may be formed in the wires, a larger loop being formed in one case than in the other.

The holes 3 and I are made of different sizes, so as to admit of the arm being inserted from different sides, according to the size of loop desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A wire-tightener consisting of a curved metallic bar having a central groove in its convex side, aligned openings in the sides of the groove, and a removable pin passing through said openings, substantially as de scribed.

2. In a wiretightener, the combination,with a curved metallic bar having a central groove in its convex side, and aligned openings of different diameters in the sides of the groove, of a looping-pin having two tapering arms at an angle to each other and of different sizes, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. AUSTIN.

IVitnesses:

\V. O. MCOULLEY, R. I. IIARDWICK. 

